Lightning leaves gaping hole in home's ceiling

Published: Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 9:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 9:57 p.m.

OCALA — A northeast Ocala home has been deemed unliveable after lightning struck the roof on Saturday, leaving a gaping hole in the living room ceiling, according to an Ocala Fire Rescue and a city building official.

Hisham Shanawany uses a blanket to sop up the water on the floor in his house Saturday night. Lightning struck his house at 2202 Northeast 38th Terrace in Ocala, FL, Saturday night, August 17, 2013. "It's lottery odds minus the lottery winnings," home owner Hisham Shanawany said with a chuckle. Shanawany was not home when the home was struck but neighbors called 911. The Ocala Fire rescue responded and put the small fire out that was located in the attic area.

Doug Engle/ Ocala Star-Banner

Brian Stoothoff, OFR assistant fire chief, said a neighbor called 911 to report seeing smoke coming from the home at 2202 NE 38th Terrace.

On scene, firefighters had to break a window in the front door to enter the home. Inside, Stoothoff said firefighters were able to contain the fire in the attic.

While inside, firefighters moved furniture out of the way, and placed a tarp on top of the roof. Inside the living room, there was a huge hole in the ceiling.

Stoothoff said the $150,000 brick home was hit by lightning, as Marion County was hit with bad weather Saturday that included high winds and heavy rains.

Capt. Eric Rawls, a watch commander for the Marion County Sheriff's Office, said dispatchers received multiple calls of downed trees and trees toppling power lines Saturday night.

Deputies responded to a tree that came down at Southwest 80th Street and 19th Avenue Road. A car, the deputy said, had hit the tree, but no one was seriously hurt in the accident, Rawls said.

Rawls also said they were power outage in the northeast and southeast section of the county.

At the lightning-damaged home on Northeast 38th Terrace, a city building inspector who was called to the scene said the roof has to be repaired. Once it's repaired, an electrical contractor has to make sure the wiring is properly repaired. Power to the home has been disconnected.

Hisham Shanawany, the homeowner, was not at home at the time when the lightning struck, as he was visiting his father. Shanawany, talking with the Star-Banner, said a neighbor called and told him about the smoke. His cat, he said, was not inside the house and instead was at a neighbor's home.

With a smile, Shanawany, who two days ago had eye surgery, described his bad luck as, “it's lottery odds, minus the lottery winnings.”

Since the start of summer, Marion County has been drenched with rain and has experienced some unpredictable type weather. Some sections of Marion County have been hit hard, with homes damaged and trees downed, as well as power outages, minor flooding and, in one instance, a gust of wind that toppled a canopy used to cover gas pumps at a gas station.

The unseasonable weather is expected to continue into Sunday, according to weather forecasters.

<p>OCALA — A northeast Ocala home has been deemed unliveable after lightning struck the roof on Saturday, leaving a gaping hole in the living room ceiling, according to an Ocala Fire Rescue and a city building official.</p><p>Brian Stoothoff, OFR assistant fire chief, said a neighbor called 911 to report seeing smoke coming from the home at 2202 NE 38th Terrace.</p><p>On scene, firefighters had to break a window in the front door to enter the home. Inside, Stoothoff said firefighters were able to contain the fire in the attic.</p><p>While inside, firefighters moved furniture out of the way, and placed a tarp on top of the roof. Inside the living room, there was a huge hole in the ceiling.</p><p>Stoothoff said the $150,000 brick home was hit by lightning, as Marion County was hit with bad weather Saturday that included high winds and heavy rains.</p><p>Capt. Eric Rawls, a watch commander for the Marion County Sheriff's Office, said dispatchers received multiple calls of downed trees and trees toppling power lines Saturday night.</p><p>Deputies responded to a tree that came down at Southwest 80th Street and 19th Avenue Road. A car, the deputy said, had hit the tree, but no one was seriously hurt in the accident, Rawls said.</p><p>Rawls also said they were power outage in the northeast and southeast section of the county.</p><p>At the lightning-damaged home on Northeast 38th Terrace, a city building inspector who was called to the scene said the roof has to be repaired. Once it's repaired, an electrical contractor has to make sure the wiring is properly repaired. Power to the home has been disconnected.</p><p>Hisham Shanawany, the homeowner, was not at home at the time when the lightning struck, as he was visiting his father. Shanawany, talking with the Star-Banner, said a neighbor called and told him about the smoke. His cat, he said, was not inside the house and instead was at a neighbor's home.</p><p>With a smile, Shanawany, who two days ago had eye surgery, described his bad luck as, “it's lottery odds, minus the lottery winnings.”</p><p>Since the start of summer, Marion County has been drenched with rain and has experienced some unpredictable type weather. Some sections of Marion County have been hit hard, with homes damaged and trees downed, as well as power outages, minor flooding and, in one instance, a gust of wind that toppled a canopy used to cover gas pumps at a gas station.</p><p>The unseasonable weather is expected to continue into Sunday, according to weather forecasters.</p>